For these volunteers, traveling to the battlefront in Ukraine could represent an opportunity to escape the harsh living conditions and economic collapse in their country, Syria, and towards a new life on the old continent.
In these terms, the Russian NewsRu website opened a report in which it said that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on March 11 that more than 16 thousand volunteers from countries in the Middle East expressed their desire to join the Donbas region to fight in the ranks of the movements. separatist.
The site emphasized that those who wish to travel and engage in this conflict expect to earn some money in light of the collapse of living conditions in Syria torn by civil war, and in return, the experience they have from fighting in their home country can be useful in the event of a long-term street war .
And the American Wall Street Journal had confirmed earlier that the recruitment of volunteers to fight in Ukraine is going in full swing, which was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense (Pentagon).
Syrian media - the site adds - has begun to inform people that the regime has begun to register the names of volunteers wishing to join the Russian army in Ukraine, with their data subsequently being transferred to the Russian forces stationed in Syria until their requests are approved.
The organization "Syrians for Truth and Justice" conducted interviews with some of these volunteers to find out their real motives. Most of those who were interrogated confirmed that they simply do not see any opportunities to continue living in Syria in light of the high rates of unemployment and the deterioration of living, and therefore they prefer to try their luck. In Ukraine, it may be their gateway to Europe.
Others also complained about the absence of basic services such as heating, electricity and drinking water in several areas of Syria. The website also quoted one of the interviewees, who requested anonymity, that he went on February 27 to one of the Syrian regime army points where the data of those wishing to travel are recorded. There, he provided information about the locations in which he fought and the combat experience he had under the supervision of Russian officers.
A second volunteer also stated that he had been promised a combat training course under the supervision of officers from Russia before being sent to the battlefronts in Ukraine.
An officer also told him that the Syrian role in this conflict would be "symbolic" and aims only to show Syria's loyalty to Russia, but the same officer assured him at another time that the Syrians' experience in the civil war in their country would be useful if the military operation turned into a street war.
The two volunteers stated that they did not receive any details about the amounts to be provided to them and the duration of the contract.
The "Syrians for Truth and Justice" organization revealed that, on the other side, there are also unremitting efforts by armed groups opposed to the regime to recruit volunteers who have combat experience in order to go to Ukraine.
This operation was launched on the day following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, and on social networks, a number of militants expressed their desire to fight against Russia, including those belonging to the "Hamza Division", one of the factions of the Free Syrian Army that was armed by the United States and Turkey.
A member of the squad appeared on local television, announcing that he was in the process of communicating with the Ukrainian embassy to agree on joining the Ukrainian army.
The website confirmed that these groups are considered loyal to Turkey, but the Turkish army refused to participate in this initiative.
Bonuses and compensation
Some sources indicated that the total number of Syrian volunteers reached 23,000, some of whom had previously fought in the "Al-Bustan Association" militia affiliated with Rami Makhlouf, cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The website indicated that the Syrians who have signed contracts so far will receive, according to some information, 7,000 dollars over seven months of service in the Ukrainian lands, while other sources stated that the monthly salary is about 3,000 dollars, and they will also be able to postpone military service. in Syria.
The terms of the contract also indicate that the families of these volunteers, in the event of their death in Ukraine, will not receive any compensation from the "Martyrs' Fund" and will be considered mere dead without privileges.
The site expected that the catastrophic economic conditions that Syria is experiencing during this period could make the sums of thousands of dollars that are being discussed tempting many Syrians to go and join the front.